Members of white supremacist forums demanded revenge for the murder of David Lynch, who was shot to death in his home in Sacramento, California, on March 2, 2011.

Prominent in the American white supremacist movement, Lynch was the founder of the American Front skinhead group, one of the oldest continuously active skinhead organizations in the United States. Through the American Front, he was connected to numerous skinhead groups and white supremacist organizations, including Volksfront and Blood and Honour. Members of the forums, several of whom indicated that they had interacted with Lynch offline, demonstrated an outpouring of anger towards the killer. A forum member reacted with an incitement to murder the killer or the killer’s family, writing: “The person or persons that committed this cowardly act will be determined. If anyone within the movement finds out, they're dead. If the police catch them first, their fucking families are dead.”

Some white supremacists on the forums speculated that Lynch’s death is part of a government campaign to target high-profile white supremacist leaders. One individual wrote, for example: “The federal government has openly declared war on us. From the racist Atty General to BATF funneling weapons to Mexican drug cartels. Don't forget the flood of illegal immigrants that drive us from our jobs, our homes, our communities. So murder of our leaders by the feds would not be surprising.”

Following is an analysis of the discussions with selected quotes:

In threads on white supremacist forums discussing the murder of David Lynch, a prominent skinhead leader and founder of the “American Front” [1], forum members called for retribution and speculated as to who carried out the attack. Lynch was shot and killed in his home in Sacramento, California, on March 2, 2011.

Posts suggested that the assailants may have been anti-fascists, the government, or a close associate of Lynch. Members of the networking forum of an international skinhead organization were particularly adamant in their calls for revenge against those who murdered Lynch.

One member, claiming to be a key individual with the American branch of an international skinhead network, wrote that he was an “old friend” of Lynch and showed great respect for his actions. As an example of their close personal ties, the individual prefaced his calls for revenge by noting that Lynch was one of the first people to receive a picture of his daughter after she was born. After establishing his relationship with Lynch, the member issued a call for reprisals against the murderer or the murderer’s family, writing:

“The person or persons that committed this cowardly act will be determined. If anyone within the movement finds out, they're dead. If the police catch them first, their fucking families are dead. I hope they know that long before their day arrives. It has been so long since individuals of great note have been murdered we tend to forget the unifying loss that is felt in their wake.”

The message was signed as an official statement from the American branch of the international skinhead organization.

British members on the same skinhead forum expressed support for violence against the culprit. One British expat currently located in Canada wrote: “May justice bring slow, painful retribution to the coward who killed him. RIP”.

Contributors on of one of the largest white supremacist forums also expressed their anger over the murder and demonstrated widespread concern that the attack represented a government campaign to target high-profile white supremacist leaders. For example, one member, giving their location as Iowa, called for violence and retribution. Presenting the call for violence as an endorsement of biblical justice, and thus in his view an expression of “religious freedom”, the poster reminded white supremacists that law enforcement was not on their side. Stating that justice through the legal system is denied to white supremacists, his message strongly suggested that the white supremacist community punish the perpetrator themselves. The post reads:

“The Bible is very clear on the penalty for killing someone. This was the murder of one of our leaders. Is there any information on what group was involved, if any? If so their leaders should take responsibility and face Biblical justice. Period. (Moderators please note that I am exercising religious freedom, not advocating illegal acts.)

“Remember that justice through the legal system and law enforcement is openly denied us. All law enforcement and courts report directly or indirectly to DOJ. The head of DOJ [Department of Justice], Eric Holder, has testified to his discrimination against whites. He testified that a hate crimes law does NOT protect whites. Recently he got angry over investigation of the Black Panthers voter intimidation case, saying it was "insulting his people". Obviously we are not "his" people. And don't forget places like Seattle that officially refuse to prosecute blacks for crimes whites are prosecuted for. How many other places have such an anti-white policy but are smart enough not to advertise it?”

Another user, claiming to be from Idaho, reiterated calls for violence against the killer, stating that he hoped “that the scum f**k that murdered you [Lynch] is subjected to Skinhead justice in some horrific way”. Other forum members offered condolences and sympathy to the American Front, friends, and associates for the loss of David Lynch.

Discussion threads announcing Lynch’s murder quickly gave rise to speculation as to who killed Lynch. One member on a skinhead forum posted a note from a friend conveying the information that the police had arrested a person associated with David Lynch. The message states:

“Hey, just keeping you informed. They Have a person in custody, it is one of daves associates, a guy named Charlie Boots. The guy they arrested, Dave was trying to help out by giving him some work, but he had to fire him because the dude was all methed out. Then I'm not sure what happen from there. I actually met that dude who is accused of doing it last 4th of July, makes me kind of sick that I know somebody like that.”

Members on the other cited white supremacist forum also began to debate who they suspected committed the murder. One user from Australia showed a picture of a man being escorted by police officers and announced that the picture was of the man that police were associating with the attack.

Another member stated that the photo above was of the man that police had arrested in connection with the murder; however, he also said that the arrest was based on speculation and that the police had released the man. The arrest and release of the suspect lead the Iowa poster to speculate that the arrest was potentially a way of quieting the story and that the attack on Lynch represented the initiation of a government war against white supremacists:

“His release, if accurate, is very interesting. MSM [mainstream media] reports that the guy pictured is known to police. Could be they were trying to head off criticism by making a baseless arrest. Does anyone have a link about his release?

“The federal government has openly declared war on us. From the racist Atty General to BATF funneling weapons to Mexican drug cartels. Don't forget the flood of illegal immigrants that drive us from our jobs, our homes, our communities. So murder of our leaders by the feds would not be surprising.

“SHTF [shit hits the fan] is here already. War is upon us whether would have it or not.”